Means of injecting fluids into food products

ABSTRACT

A meat injection machine has a fluid manifold with a plurality of fluid reservoirs, and a group of injection needles associated with each reservoir. Each needle is slidably mounted in a stripper tube which in turn is slidably mounted in the fluid manifold. A valve on the upper end of the stripper tube seats on a valve seat on the upper end of the needle. A stripper pad is mounted on the lower end of each stripper tube and slidably embraces the lower end of each needle. Each fluid reservoir has a fluid pressure regulator to adjust fluid pressure on each reservoir. The method of injecting fluid into meat entails weighing the meat product, injecting it with fluid, weighing the injected meat product, comparing that weight with a target weight, and adjusting the fluid pressure in each reservoir so that the next meat product will have its injected weight adjusted towards the target weight if a weight variance with the target weight exists with respect to the first injected meat product.

This is a divisional of copending application(s) Ser. No. 08/503,455 filed on Jul. 17, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common to inject brine or similar fluids into meat products for purposes of preservation and flavoring. Many machines have been devised which have a battery of reciprocal needles which are adapted to penetrate meat products and are adapted to inject fluid into the meat products through the needles.

Existing machines have a tendency to waste the injected fluid and lack the ability to effectively and uniformly inject fluid into the meat product, particularly when variations in thickness of the meat product exists. These machines emit fluid from all needles even if some needles do not engage the meat product. In addition, existing machines have gang stripper plates that can damage the meat product, and most are often difficult to clean. Further, they have not taken full advantage of computer technology to enhance their operation and efficiency.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a method and machine for injecting fluids into food products which will not waste the fluid being injected, and which will not damage the meat.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method and means for injecting food products which will automatically and uniformly inject fluid into a piece of meat which varies in thickness.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method and machine for injecting fluid into meat products wherein each needle injects fluid independently of other needles, and wherein each needle has its own stripper element.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine for injecting fluid into food products which is easily cleaned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for injecting fluid into meat products wherein the amount of fluid injected is proportional to the volume of meat injected.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The machine of this invention includes a plastic head, manifold or block which has 330 vertical bores therein with each bore slidably receiving a stripper tube. Bushings in the upper and lower ends of each bore embrace the tubes. One or more fluid containers are mounted on the top of the head and contain fluid under pressure.

The stripper tubes have a length substantially twice that of the vertical thickness of the head. The tubes are about 14 inches in length. Commencing approximately 3/4 of an inch from the upper end, and extending downwardly for a length of about 5 inches, a slot appears in one face of the tube and comprises approximately 1/3 of the periphery of the tube.

A poppet valve is mounted in the upper end of the stripper tube and has a plastic cap thereon. A spring loaded plunger is mounted in the poppet valve and has a valve seat that extends downwardly. The poppet valve has a stem that extends upwardly through the cap. The spring yieldingly urges the valve head downwardly.

An elongated needle assembly is movably mounted within the stripper tube. The needle assembly is comprised of an elongated hollow needle having a length slightly greater than the stripper tube. The upper end of the needle assembly has a valve seat thereon which is adapted to receive the valve head of the poppet valve to seal the interior of the needle from the flow of fluid. Normally, pressurized fluid surrounds the poppet valve and the upper surface of the valve seat. A horizontal key plate on the head extends through the slot opening in the stripper tube and protrudes underneath the lower edge of the valve seat.

A spool extends around the needle at approximately the mid-point thereof and slidably engages the inner wall of the stripper tube. The spool serves to center the needle on the center axis of the stripper tube to stabilize its position therein. The spool also serves to seal the needle with respect to the tube.

The lower end of the stripper tube has a plastic stripper pad secured thereto. The stripper pad will always dwell below the lower surface of the block even when the stripper tube is in its uppermost position within the block. The pad limits the upper travel of the stripper tube into the block. The stripper pad has three oblong openings adjacent its lower end and has a small aperture in its lower end through which the exit end of the needle dwells when the head is in its uppermost position.

A set of separate needles is positioned below the needle assembly to create fluid voids in the lower portion of the meat product to receive fluid being injected from the upper side of the meat product from the needles of the needle assembly.

The method involves the sequential steps for sensing the thickness or weight of the meat, and appropriately injecting the correct amount of fluid therein including the use of a computer to control the various steps of the injection process. The computer takes the injected weight of the meat, compares it with a target weight (or weight increase), and automatically makes fluid injecting adjustments if weight variations exist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the injection machine of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale perspective view of the center portion of the machine in FIG. 1 with the cover removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale perspective view of the needle head assembly;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged scale sectional view of the machine taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is a sectional view taken on line 6A--6A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged scale perspective view of a needle and stripper tube of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a needle and stripper tube assembly taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 5; but shows the needle under static (non-fluid pressure conditions) for illustrative purposes only;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 8 but shown at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9A is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 11, and shows the stripper tube assembly just before engagement with the meat product;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10--10 of FIG. 12 and is similar to that of FIG. 9 but shows the needle in a position just after initial penetration into a meat slab;

FIG. 10A is a view similar to that of FIG. 10, but shows the needle a moment of time after the position of FIG. 10 when fluid flow through the needle commences;

FIGS. 11-15 are sectional views of the needle and stripper tube assembly showing the sequence of the injection phenomenon of each needle and stripper tube assembly;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 14 but shows the position of the needle when encountering a bone within the meat product;

FIG. 17 is a large scale sectional view of the upper portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken on line 18--18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged scale perspective view of the value of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the fluid control system for the various groups of injection needles;

FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view of the walking beam; and

FIG. 22 is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on line 22--22 of FIG. 21.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The term "meat product" as used herein is intended to be generic for any food product that might require injection, including, without limitation, meats, poultry and fish.

With reference to FIG. 1, the injector in the injection machine 10 has a frame 12 with four conventional legs 14. An input scale and conveyor 16 is located at the inlet at one end of the machine and an output scale and conveyor 18 is located at the other end of the machine. With reference to FIG. 2, a needle assembly 20 is mounted on the top of frame 12 and is held in place by brackets 22. A conventional horizontal walking beam transport 24 is mounted on the upper surface of the frame 12 and serves to transport meat products from one end of the machine to the other in conventional fashion. The horizontal walking beam transport 24 has the conventional functional ability to lift the meat product upwardly slightly from a supporting surface, move it forwardly in a longitudinal direction a given increment, and then lower it back to its original plane of support.

As shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, a power mechanism 28 provides operational power to the various components of the machine 10 including the horizontal walking beam transport 24 and the needle assembly 20. Cam wheel 30 is operationally connected to power mechanism 28 and lift arms 32 which are in turn a part of the needle assembly 20.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a manifold block 34 has in the order of 330 vertical bores 36 and these bores are located in groups of 50 or so. A fluid reservoir 38 is bolted or otherwise secured to the upper portion of manifold block 34 and is divided into six fluid compartments 38A. A hollow rigid piston rod 40 extends upwardly from the top of each fluid reservoir or compartment 38A. The numeral 44 designates the upper end of rod 40 which is rigidly inserted within the dampener cylinder block 46, as will be described hereafter. Block 46 has a plurality of vertical bores 48 to slidably receive piston sleeves 50, which slidably receive the upper ends of rods 40. Each bore 48 has an air line 48A (FIG. 17). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 17, apertures 52 and 54 are located in sleeve 50 and block 46, respectively, and are vertically spaced with respect to each other.

Air pressure valves 56 are mounted on block 46 at the base of each bore 48 and communicate with the interior of sleeves 50 by aperture 52A (FIG. 17). It should be noted that any fluid in aperture 52A is always in communication with the space 52B around the outside of rod 40. The arrows 52C in FIG. 17 show the path of fluid flow between aperture 52 of valve 56, upwardly through space 52B and into the upper end of rods 40.

The pressure valve 56 has a bore 56A in which piston 56B is slidably mounted. The top of bore 56A is connected to pressurized air line 56C. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, the bottom of piston 56B is tapered inwardly at 57 to allow pressurized fluid from conduit 56D and fluid pressure line 58 to surround the taper 57 with fluid. This phenomenon is facilitated by the fluid notches 56F in the bottom of piston 56B which normally rests on the bottom 56G of bore 56A. As will be explained hereafter, whenever air or fluid conditions are such that piston 56B rises in bore 56A so that taper 57 registers with aperture 52A, pressurized fluid will flow from line 56E into aperture 52A and aperture 52, and thence into space 52B.

Aperture 52 and 54 communicate with each other when fluid pressure conditions are such that piston sleeve 50 rises from the position of FIG. 17 so that apertures 52 register with aperture 54. Aperture 54 communicates with bore 54A in fluid return line 60. (FIG. 17).

As shown in FIG. 9, stripper tube 62 is slidably inserted through a top bushing 64 and a bottom bushing 66 which are mounted within the bores 36 of manifold block 34. A hollow injection needle 68 is mounted within each of the stripper tubes 62. A spool 70 is located near the mid-point of needle 68. Spool 70 serves to center the needle within the stripper tube 62 and also, by means of seal 72, serves to seal the interior of stripper tube 62 above spool 70 from the interior of the stripper tube below spool 70. This prevents any fluid from moving downwardly past the spool 70 through the stripper tube 62. The spool 70 acts as a piston in response to the pressurized fluid bearing downwardly thereon to provide the penetration force for the needles. A valve seat 74 is mounted on the upper end of each needle 68 and when open, permits fluid to flow therethrough into the needle 68.

A stripper pad 76 is mounted on the lower end of stripper tube 62, and a locking ring or the like locks this interconnection between pad 76 and tube 62 (FIG. 9). Pad 76 has a top 78 and a bottom 80 with a plurality of elongated center slots 82. The slots 82 facilitate cleaning. A needle aperture 84 appears along the elongated axis of the bottom 80 of pad 76 to slidably receive the lower portion of needle 68.

Stripper tube 62 has an elongated vertical slot 86 in one of its sides as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The slot 86 has an upper end 88, and a lower end 90. A key plate 92 is secured to manifold block 32 and protrudes slightly across the upper end of bore 36 and stripper tube 62 (FIG. 15). As shown in FIGS. 9 and 15, key plate 92 engages the lower end of an annular shoulder 93 on valve seat 74 to prevent the valve seat 74 and needle 68 from protruding downwardly any further into the stripper tube 62.

Key plate 92 is mounted on top of block 34 (FIG. 6) and is held in place by reservoir 38. The plate 92 (FIG. 6A) has a plurality of apertures or openings 92A which are wide enough to receive the upper ends of stripper tubes 62. Upon assembly of the machine, plate 92 is placed over the upper ends of the tubes 62 and the poppet valves 94, and then is moved laterally a short increment so that the operating edges 92B thereof penetrate into the slots 86 in the tubes 62 as typically shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.

A poppet valve 94 (FIG. 9) is mounted on the upper end of stripper tube 62 and is comprised of cap 96 which has a center shaft 98 slidably and vertically extending therethrough. Shaft 98 is embraced by coil spring 100 which extends between the cap 96 and the upper portion of valve head 102. Spring 100 normally urges the valve head 102 and shaft 98 to an extended position as shown in FIG. 9. As shown in 15, the upward movement of the stripper tube with respect to the manifold block 34 causes the valve seat 74 to engage the valve head 102 to prevent any further fluid from flowing into the needle 68.

It should be noted that the net fluid pressure bearing downwardly on stripper tube 62 causes the tube and pad 76 to move downwardly to engage the meat product.

The object of the foregoing structure is to provide fluid flow through each individual needle commencing an instant after the stripper pad has engaged the meat product and continuing while the needle moves downwardly through the meat product, and reverses its direction to a point in time of exit from the meat product. If a given needle never engages the meat product, it will not discharge any fluid at all.

In operation, FIGS. 9A and 11 show the position of the stripper tube assembly before engagement with the meat product. No fluid is flowing through the needles at that point in time. FIGS. 10 and 12 show the needle after the needle has initially penetrated the meat product but before fluid flow commences. FIGS. 10A and 13 show the needle in a position of initial penetration when fluid flow commences. FIG. 14 shows the needle in a position of maximum penetration into the meat product. FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the needle exiting the meat product and generally depicts the position when fluid flow cease.

In a normal injection cycle, the head is lowered a vertical distance of approximately 4.5 inches. Stripper tube 62 moves downwardly in unison with all of the rest of the stripper tubes as the block 34 moves downwardly. Stripper tube 62, through the stripper pad 76 on the lower end thereof, is the first to engage the thickest part of the meat product. This causes the downward movement of the stripper tube 62 to cease as the block 34 continues downward to its lowermost position. In such case, the block 34 "slides" downwardly on each of the stripper tubes that have contacted the meat product, and the upper end of the tubes project upwardly from the block 34 a distance corresponding to the meat thickness. See FIG. 14. While the stripper tube 62 no longer moves downwardly, the fluid pressure on the upper end of the valve seat 74 at the top of the needle, and on the spool 70, as described above, keeps the valve seat in contact with the key plate 92 and causes the downward movement of the needle to continue to penetrate the meat. Continued movement of the needle relative to the "stopped" stripper tube causes the valve seat 74 to separate from the spring loaded poppet valve 94 (and valve head 102) which allows fluid under pressure to flow downwardly through the needle and outwardly through the lower end of the needle. The flow of fluid through the needle is slightly delayed because the poppet valve 94 follows the downward movement of the needle assembly a short increment due to the action of spring 100 before the separation of the valve seat 74 and the valve head 102 of the poppet valve 94. Thus the needle progressively moves downwardly into the meat and fluid flow continues throughout the movement of the needle downwardly and upwardly until the valve seat 74 rejoins the valve head 102 of poppet valve 94 corresponding to a location which is a small increment of distance before the top of the needle leaves the top surface of the meat. Since fluid flow through the needles commences an instant after entry into the meat product (FIG. 10A), and ceases an instant before leaving the meat product (FIG. 15), fluid is not wasted by flowing from the needles outside the meat product.

The head then starts its upward vertical movement and the key plate 92 starts to pull the needle upwardly out of the meat. The stripper tube remains stationary as the head slides "upwardly" on the stripper tube. Fluid flows outwardly from the lower end of the needle as long as it is within the meat product. As the needle is about to depart from the product, the valve seat has been moved upwardly to a level that it re-engages the valve element of the poppet valve whereupon fluid flow through the needle is stopped just before the needle departs or exits from the meat product.

The action of each needle and stripper tube is independent from other needles and stripper tubes. For example, a stripper tube that engages a thinner portion of the meat product goes through the same essential process as the needle described heretofore except that the injection time of the fluid is reduced directly in proportion to the relative thickness of the meat where injected by each individual needle.

A plurality of either dormant or active needles 104 (FIGS. 21, 22) are located on the frame 12 underneath the normal location of the meat product. (The lower needles 104 are shown only in FIGS. 21 and 22, but can be used in the devices of FIGS. 11-15, for example.) The lower needles 104 are mounted on the upper surfaces of support T-bars 24A of walking beam transport 24. The needles 104 are laterally aligned and spaced on 7/16 inch centers. They are also staggered with respect to the vertical axes of upper needles 68 so that the needles 104 penetrate the meat product at locations spaced from the axis of penetration of the upper needles 68. The vertical axes of various of the needles 68 are designated by the numerals 68A in FIG. 22. The voids in the meat product 106 created by lower needles 104 are normally filled by fluid migrating from needles 68. When the meat is being injected, the conveyor bars 24B of walking beam conveyor are in a conventional non-transport position wherein they do not extend above the upper surfaces of T-bars 24A. The lower needles 104 are approximately 3/8ths of an inch in height and penetrate the meat product along vertical axes slightly removed from the axes of the injection needles 68. The lower needles 104 are offset from the injection needles and create cavities in the meat, and the fluid injector by the upward needles migrates towards the cavities generated by the lower needles. The lower needles can also be made operative for fluid injection purposes.

FIG. 16 shows the lower end of a needle 68 engaging a bone 106 in meat product 108. The needle is protected against damage because it is permitted to slide upwardly within stripping tube 62.

The needle head assembly 20 is separated into a number of individually controlled pressurized fluid zones such that the needle assemblies of one zone engaging a portion of meat of a certain consistency can be selectively varied with respect to the fluid pressure that would be proper for another portion of the meat being treated by another zone. The separate fluid pressure zones would be dispersed laterally across the head so that a distribution of desired injection pressures corresponding to the varying density of the meat would be provided to maintain a uniform percentage of fluid injection.

More specifically, the fluid reservoir 38 has a plurality of zones or fluid compartments 38A into which the hollow piston rods 40 extend, as previously described. The upper end of the cylinder block 46 is in communication with a source of compressed air through air line and air regulator 48A. A suitable air regulator is the MAC Proportional Pressure Controller, Model PPC5A made by MAC Valves, Inc., of Wixom, Mich. The air regulator 48A would be set at a pressure equal to and would determine the pressure in the pressurized container 38A that it controlled. Thus, if the fluid pump (not shown) produced 100 p.s.i., and if it was desired to have a fluid pressure of 30 p.s.i. in the first zone, the air regulator 48A at the top of cylinder 46 would be moved to a 30 p.s.i. position, whereupon the fluid regulator in the line between the fluid pump and the piston rod 40 would be regulated to adjust the fluid pressure to 70 p.s.i. This would be accomplished by adjusting the fluid regulator 56C of air pressure valve 56. The sum of the pressures between the fluid pressure regulator 56C and the air pressure regulator 48A will always equal the main discharge pressure of the supply pump (e.g., 100 p.s.i.).

The pressure in the other fluid zones 38A would be adjusted in the same manner. The system is controlled by a microprocessor (not shown) which weighed the meat product before and after the injection process. If it is desired to increase the weight of the meat product by 23% through the injection of fluid, and if the microprocessor detects that an injected meat product is slightly over or under the predetermined weight, (i.e., target weight), appropriate impulses are fed from the microprocessor to the air and fluid regulators (48A and 56C, respectively) described above to make an adjustment in the pressure in the fluid containers 38A to accommodate the required adjustment. If the second meat product processed is still out of the injection parameters, the microprocessor makes a further adjustment in the positive or negative direction of the pressure regulators to further refine the amount of injection of fluid.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the device and method of this invention will accomplish at least its stated objective. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine for injecting fluid into meat products, comprising,a meat product support means on said machine, a fluid manifold means on said machine over said support means, and being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a plurality of first injector needles comprising a group of individual injector needles on said fluid manifold means, and extending towards support means, power means on said machine for moving said fluid manifold means and said first injector needles towards said support means to inject fluid into a meat product on said support means, and separate control elements on each individual injector needle of said first injector needles to individually control the amount of fluid each needle injects into a meat product on said support means.
 2. A machine for injecting fluid into meat products, comprising,a meat product support means on said machine, a fluid manifold means on said machine over said support means, and being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a plurality of injector needles on said fluid manifold means, and extending towards support means, power means on said machine for moving said fluid manifold means and said first injector needles towards said support means to inject fluid into a first meat product on said support means, first weighing means on said machine for weighing a first meat product prior to injection of fluid thereinto by said injector needles, second weighing means on said machine spaced from said first weighing means for weighing a first meat product after it has been injected with fluid, means on said machine for comparing the weight of a fluid injected first meat product with a target weight to determine any variance between the actual weight of an injected first meat product with said target weight, and means on said machine for increasing or decreasing the flow of fluid through said injector needles so that variance in weight with respect to said target weight will be minimized to permit a second meat product similar in weight to that of a first meat product to be injected with fluid and to achieve said target weight.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for increasing or decreasing the fluid flow through said first injector needles is a means for adjusting the pressure on said fluid.
 4. A machine for injecting fluid into meat products, comprising,a meat product support means on said machine, a fluid manifold means on said machine over said support means, and being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a plurality of first injector needles on said fluid manifold means, and extending towards support means, power means on said machine for moving said fluid manifold means and said first injector needles towards said support means to inject fluid into a meat product on said support means, separate control elements on each of said first injector needles to individually control the amount of fluid each needle injects into a meat product on said support means, a plurality of upwardly extending second needles are secured to said support means, said second needles adapted to simultaneously penetrate a meat product being penetrated by said injecter needles to provide voids in said meat product to receive fluid injected into said meat product by said injector needles.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said first injector needles and said second needles have substantially vertical axes, with the axes of said first injector needles being offset with respect to the axes of said second needles.
 6. A machine for injecting fluid into meat products, comprising,a meat product support means on said machine, a fluid manifold means on said machine over said support means, and being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a plurality of first injector needles on said fluid manifold means, and extending towards support means, power means on said machine for moving said fluid manifold means and said first injector needles towards said support means to inject fluid into a meat product on said support means, separate control elements on each of said first injector needles to individually control the amount of fluid each needle injects into a meat product on said support means, said injector needles are hollow and are each slidably mounted within an elongated substantially vertical stripper tube having upper and lower ends, a normally closed valve in the upper end of said tube and being in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, a valve seat on the upper end of each of said injector needles and adapted to seat said valve to close fluid flow into said needles, a separate stripper pad on the lower end of said stripper tubes slidably embracing the needles mounted within each stripper tube, said stripper tubes being slidably mounted on said fluid manifold means whereby said valve will be unseated from said valve seat to allow fluid under pressure to flow into said needle when the downward movement of said fluid manifold means causes said stripper pad to engage a meat product to slidably move said stripper tube upwardly with respect to said injector needle and said fluid manifold means.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said stripper tube has an elongated vertical slot extending downwardly from said valve seat, a key element on said fluid manifold means extending into said slot and abutting said needle to prevent said needle from moving downwardly with respect to said fluid manifold.
 8. The device of claim 6 wherein said valve has a spring loaded movable valve plunger that has an effective increment of travel greater than the necessary increment of travel to engage the valve seat on the upper end of said needle so that said valve will remain engaged with said valve seat for a short increment of time when said stripper tube is slightly displaced in an upward direction in said fluid manifold, whereupon said valve will remain closed for said short increments of time after said needle enters a meat product and just before said needle exits a meat product.
 9. A machine for injecting fluid into meat products, comprising,a meat product support means on said machine, a fluid manifold means on said machine over said support means, and being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a plurality of first injector needles on said fluid manifold means, and extending towards support means, power means on said machine for moving said fluid manifold means and said first injector needles towards said support means to inject fluid into a meat product on said support means, separate control elements on each of said first injector needles to individually control the amount of fluid each needle injects into a meat product on said support means, said fluid manifold means includes a plurality of separate groups of needles each in communication with a separate individually pressured controlled fluid reservoir, each group of needles and each fluid reservoir being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a fluid pressure control valve operatively connected to each fluid reservoir, and an air dampening element operatively associated with said fluid pressure control valve to control the amount of pressurized fluid delivered to each of said fluid reservoir, said air dampening element being operatively connected to a source of compressed air by an air control regulator, whereupon varying degrees of fluid pressure can be delivered to various of said reservoirs to vary the pressure on the fluid among said groups of needles. 